Is mold covered under homeowners insurance?
Short answer. Mold is excluded on most homeowners policies, with an exception: mold that results from a covered water loss, like a storm-damaged roof or a burst pipe, is usually covered up to a mold sublimit. Mold from humidity, condensation, long-term leaks or poor maintenance is not. Reading the fungi section of your own policy tells you which rule and which dollar limit apply.
How the mold wording is usually built
- The exclusion. The policy excludes loss caused by fungi, wet or dry rot, or bacteria.
- The exception. It then gives back coverage when the mold results from a covered peril, often a sudden water discharge or storm damage.
- The limit. That give-back is capped at a dollar amount, sometimes listed on the declarations page and sometimes inside an endorsement.
- What the limit includes. Some forms count removal, testing and rebuild against the cap; others pay the underlying water repair separately.
Conditions that usually apply
- The water event was sudden and accidental.
- You reported it promptly and took reasonable steps to dry the house.
- The mold was not caused by humidity, condensation or a leak that ran for weeks.
Questions to ask your agent
- What is my mold limit, and what does it include?
- Can I buy an endorsement for higher mold coverage?
- Does the limit apply per loss or per policy year?
Roof leaks and mold
When mold follows a roof leak, the first question is whether a storm caused the leak. If the roof failed from age, the mold is usually excluded along with the leak. See interior water damage from roof leaks, wear and tear vs storm damage and your duty to mitigate.